Deadline is July 1 for Water Quality Funding for Farmers

Congresswoman Kaptur reminded area farmers they have until July 1 to apply for funding to a new water quality program under the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI).

Eligible farmers can receive technical and financial assistance to implement conservation practices on their properties to help protect water quality in the Western Basin of Lake Erie.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture will pay a portion of the costs of keeping sediment and nutrients out of the lake. "Millions of Ohioans depend on Lake Erie for drinking water and recreation," said Congresswoman Kaptur. "Phosphate pollution and excessive sedimentation are issues that need to be addressed."

GLRI funding will be available to farmers through existing conservation initiatives such as the Environmental Quality Incentives Program and the Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program.

Deadline for signup is July 1. Although applications from farmers in the Lower Maumee and Sandusky watersheds will receive priority consideration, farmers in other counties are also encouraged to apply.

Information is available at local NRCS offices and on the website at https://www.oh.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/GLRI/glri_10.html.